Alternative to AA 5-star European recovery?

whoami1

Apart from not getting anything at all, is there any alternative to the AA 5-star cover for European breakdown recovery?

whoami1

BUMP! No-one?

El Kabong!

IYes. You can join ADAC, which is a German based organisation.

I and my wife are members for 100euro/year. This gets us full EU breakdown cover, but probably at a fairly basic level. No matter.

If you break down while in Ireland, you ring the German number, and I think the just sub it out to the AA!

Best thing to do is ring their number + (0) 89 7676 6632 and ask 'do you speak English please' and they usually can find somebody who can. You will probably be posted an English language form.

At renewal time, they post stuff out in German. You ring and ask for English and they just do it over the phone.


I reckon most people could just use their insurance provided local breakdown assist in Ireland, and ADAC when in the UK/rest of Europe.

ei9go

Axa assistance.

Recently bought for a week in France 49 Euro, AA was 119.

El Kabong!

You see, if I am on holidays in France it is for 2-3 weeks. For what you quoted... that would cost me 100-150+++ and then it expires. I could ring a local breakdown service for less!

With ADAC, I am covered all year round including in Ireland, unlimited times. I am sure it is just a case that they bring me to a nearby garage, but that is probably all most people need.

I did once purchase breakdown assistance at EUR300 but I was driving a classic across many countries and wanted it repatriated if something happened.

kuro2k

El Kabong! wrote: »

You see, if I am on holidays in France it is for 2-3 weeks. For what you quoted... that would cost me 100-150+++ and then it expires. I could ring a local breakdown service for less!

With ADAC, I am covered all year round including in Ireland, unlimited times. I am sure it is just a case that they bring me to a nearby garage, but that is probably all most people need.

I did once purchase breakdown assistance at EUR300 but I was driving a classic across many countries and wanted it repatriated if something happened.

ADAC will also repatriate your car back to Ireland if it can't get fixed abroad, you just need to make sure you get the ADAC plus membership

ADAC single Plus-membership 79.50 EUR
ADAC Partner Plus-membership 98.70 EUR


.

El Kabong!

Grand so, that's what I have

Having said that, the repatriation cost usually has to be less than the cars value, which is no longer true for me these days.......

CiniO

Out of curiosity - what would need to have happened that car couldn't be repaired in any of the European countries and had to be repatriated to Ireland to be repaired?

I can't think of any such situation.

I personally always buy the basic cover in one of Polish insurers for EU breakdown assistance.
It costs me 15 quid in annual membership, and 40 cents for each day I need EU cover, with 10 days minimum, so even for 1 day journey I'd need to pay full 4 euros.

It provides assistance at site, towing to nearest garage or garage of my choice within 50km or sth. BnB for driver and passengers, and if car can't be repaired within 24h then alternative transport to destination for everyone and transport for driver back to pick up the car.

It's not very comprehensive cover, but it's more than I'd need anyway, and costs nearly nothing.

If I had to pay over 100 yoyos for a week or 2 weeks trip, I'd say it's more worth not to buy any assistance at all.
Overall if you really breakdown, cost of towing to the garage, taxi and B'n'b or hotel even for few night for few people shouldn't exceed few hundred euros. Very little point then paying over 100 to cover something which is unlikely anyway and won't cost millions.

El Kabong!

CiniO wrote: »

Out of curiosity - what would need to have happened that car couldn't be repaired in any of the European countries and had to be repatriated to Ireland to be repaired?

In my case I was driving a classic Alfa... so it would be very hard to get some parts or panels, for instance.

Or, if there was a delay on back-ordered parts and the car wouldn't be fixed by the time your holiday was up, it might be easier for them to ship home and you fix it, rather than them leave it somewhere to be fixed when you aren't around, and then arrange shipping home.

CiniO

El Kabong! wrote: »

In my case I was driving a classic Alfa... so it would be very hard to get some parts or panels, for instance.

Or, if there was a delay on back-ordered parts and the car wouldn't be fixed by the time your holiday was up, it might be easier for them to ship home and you fix it, rather than them leave it somewhere to be fixed when you aren't around, and then arrange shipping home.

With classic car - definitely.
But with something relatively modern say up to 15 years old, I'm sure all those cars can be repaired anywhere in EU quickly enough.

El Kabong!

It also covers the eventuality that the only person insured to drive the car is ill or can't do it for whatever reason.

If you are in an accident and in a coma then I guess when you wake up it will be back on your drive waiting for you!